PIA Press Release2005/08/08

Bohol Nutri Council to strengthen progs after "malnourished" rating

Tagbilaran City (8 August) -- Strengthened nutrition programs in the towns while those planned activities should be implemented, suggests a nutritionist and dietician assigned at the Provincial Health Office when asked what will be the changes now that Bohol showed "malnourished" rating in Central Visayas.

A part of the plan is for municipal nutrition action plan to include more projects on food production in efforts to balance the possible need of nutrients in the children's food.

Simultaneous closing program of the Nutrition Month Celebration rolled off with the bleak news: Bohol only got 15.92%, the least among Central Visayas provinces.

The National Nutrition Council (NCC) issued the rating following evaluations from submitted provincial reports of weighing pre-schoolers and toddlers during the month-long celebration.

Following Bohol in its rank is Siquijor with 15.88%, Negros Oriental at 15.88% and Cebu at 15.36%.

Reacting to the report, Bohol first District congressman Edgar M. Chatto, who is also Chairman of the Board of Feed the Children Philippine Inc., called on local governments and nutrition workers to focus on malnutrition.

He also feared that if this remains unchecked, it may become a blight of the future.

On her behalf, Juliet Manliguez of the PHO disclosed that Bohol may have been rated low because Bohol's nutrition scholars have been extensively doing their jobs weighing toddlers, assisting nutritional feedings and religiously submitting reports.

She however did not say if other provinces were also that extensive in their respective composite municipal evaluations.

Bohol's 43 towns this year competed for the coveted outstanding Municipal Nutrition Council (MNC) after Inabanga, Calape and Talibon have been in the exemptions list as hall of famers.

Inabanga has also been a consistent regional nutrition awardee, which in a way supports Manliguez claims.

Winning the top ten slots for outstanding MNC were the programs of the municipal councils of Trinidad, Tubigon, Mabini, Guindulman, Panglao, Balilihan, Coprella, Garcia Hernandez, Sikatuna and Dauis. The awarding was done last July 28 at Water Paradise resort in Taloto, this city.

Winning councils received cash awards and trophies.

Winning as the Nutrition scholar of the year is Juliet Estoce of Tambooc, Inabanga, Bohol.

Also awarded were three outstanding barangay nutrition Committees from Bohol's 3 districts.

Despite the bleak performance, local leaders here see the report as a douse of cold water to awaken mediocre municipal nutrition program implementations. (PIA) [top]